Winkler County

Duane's take

The way the marker tells it, here's the story of Winkler County. Formed from Tom Green County, this stretch of West Texas was created on February 26, 1887. Now, created and organized are two different things out here, and Winkler County knows that better than most.

It sat there, carved out and official on paper, for over two decades before anybody got around to organizing it. That day finally came on April 5, 1910. Some things take time in Texas.

The county was named in honor of C. M. Winkler, born in 1821 and gone by 1882, a man the marker remembers as a statesman, a soldier, and a jurist.

Three titles. Not many folks earn one of those, let alone all three. The county seat is Kermit, and the land around it has made its living in two honest ways: pulling petroleum up from the earth and raising cattle on top of it.

That's Winkler County. Named for a man who wore three hats, built on ground that gives twice.

What the marker says

Formed from Tom Green County. Created February 26, 1887. Organized April 5, 1910. Named in honor of C. M. Winkler, 1821-1882, statesman, soldier and jurist. Kermit, the county seat. A petroleum producing and cattle raising area.